Remember us? Syracuse lacrosse flexes its muscles in a 20-10 win over Virginia

Syracuse, NY – Shocked a week ago with a stunning defeat at the opening of the season, Syracuse offered an emphatic response on Saturday night to anyone who wants to know where this team was in its quest for a national championship.

A clear and balanced offensive attack and a clear X lead maintained the No. 9 SU victory by 20-10 against Virginia’s No. 2/3 at the Carrier Dome.

That defense that allowed easy shots at close range a week ago? He ended one of the country’s most explosive attacks, limiting it to just three goals after the break.

With him, Orange took any doubts that he would keep his place as a candidate for the championship and sent a message to the ACC: Remember us?

The stars of SU in midfield appeared, but the depth in the second row and a strong exit from freshman Owen Hiltz in his first start unleashed the potential that we all thought this team had had since last season.

Syracuse coach John Desko lamented the lack of training and clashes that led to the Army’s 18-11 defeat last week, but in six short days Orange appeared to be in shape in the middle of the season, passing the attack through X to give more space to your midfield. to operate and capitalize your chances in the range.

As expected, the game was marked by a frantic pace before Syracuse broke up in the third quarter and reached a decisive victory. The teams combined 55 shots in the first half.

Brendan Curry (three goals, four assists), Stephen Rehfuss (three goals, three assists) and Tucker Dordevic (three goals) played as the All-America candidates they are.

Hiltz, the country’s second recruit who may soon win such praise, made his first start of the season in the attack in place of Griffin Cook and scored five points, with three goals and two assists, including a beautiful Rehfuss feed to crown an initiated break goalkeeper Drake Porter at the end of the first half.

Syracuse got a 9-7 lead at half-time, with contributions from the second row, with Owen Seebold and Lucas Quinn scoring two goals early in the game. Jakob Phaup dominated at X since the jump, winning 22 of 33 head-to-head matches.

There was a streak at the start of the game when the SU bench chirped at a UVA player, telling him to hit the calf machine in the gym.

In the end, he surrounded goalkeeper Porter in celebration, crowning a complete defeat against one of the country’s darlings in this young lacrosse season and remembering that it will still be a force to be reckoned with this spring.

Contact Nate Mink anytime: E-mail | Twitter | 315-430-8253

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